(Disclaimer: I own or claim none of Tolkein's work or characters, the only character that I claim is Brenna.)

Saving the Past

Chapter 1

In a world full of turmoil it is hard to find where you belong in the midst all of the chaos. Brenna Logan listened to the news on the radio and read the newspapers everyday hearing the newest casualties of the latest battle in the world. Being the only child of a well off family, she lived in her family home in the rural countryside of the east, seemingly away from the turmoil and fighting.

The twenty year old, raven-haired girl thought back to the years before the battles broke out. The natural resources of the earth had been all but depleted and countries began fighting over what was left until an all out world war began, only this time it didn't end in peace. Even now seven years later the fighting was still taking place.

With each passing day more people died and the world that was once prosperous was falling apart a little more. Brenna sat at the window of her house looking out her windows with big green eyes at her backyard remembering the days when she would run around blissfully ignorant to what was happening in her life and the world around her. Now all alone she looked around her family home almost expecting to see her parents walk through the door, but knowing that it would never happen.

Three months ago her parents had been on a trip to the capital when there had been an attack on the country at many of the major cities killing millions, her parents included. On that day her world shattered, everything that she had ever known turned out to be a lie and she still wasn't sure how she felt about it. She loved her parents, dearly so, but shortly after their deaths the family attorney read their wills and revealed that she was adopted. There was no record of her birth parents or how to find them. There was so much that she wanted to ask them about, so many things that she needed answers to, but it seemed as if Fate had other plans.

She sighed heavily as she watched the sun pass through the sky. As day turned into night she kept thinking about everything that had happened over the past few years. As a teenager, Brenna began training to fight such as fencing and archery as a hobby in boarding school. She also thought back to the strange things that seemed to happen around her when her emotions got the best of her. The wind would pick up and blow around her and unexplainable events took place, especially when she was angry or scared. Sometimes she knew that things were going to happen before they did, or she'd have dreams that often came true.

Her thoughts strayed to her parents once more and her heart ached at the knowledge that they had lied to her all of her life. That she never got the chance to talk to them about it or to say goodbye.

Brenna got up to go begin making something to eat for dinner when she got dizzy. A loud explosion sounded off in the distance, rocking the house. She reached for the wall by the window to steady herself as the world faded out to black and she experienced a falling sensation.

Suddenly she found herself surrounded by blinding white light. She heard voices speaking softly around her as she was cradled by gentle hands. She felt a warm, soft hand brushing the hair from her brow and a soft voice humming a tune that she knew from somewhere.

"My child you must awake, for time is running short," a lyrical voice stated kindly.

Brenna struggled to move, but found that she did not have the strength to do so. Instead she opened her eyes, finding herself surrounding by bright, white light and heavenly beings, each cloaked in pristine garments. A lady with a kind face and voice was holding her and soothing her. Surrounding her were thirteen others looking down at her with compassion and concern. Two stepped forward and the others bowed as they approached Brenna. The woman holding her gently handed her to the man, who held himself differently than the others. The woman beside him looked down at Brenna with so much love and concern in her eyes.

"Brenna," the man said in a strong, yet soothing voice, "you now have a choice. The world that you knew was not truly your home, but you were sent there to protect you. It has since been toiled with hate and war, thus destroying itself. You can pass into the Halls of Mandos and reside in Valinor with your kin, or you may go to the world where you were born and fight to save it. In doing so you would be saving the home you knew."

After a pause Brenna responded, "But I don't understand. How would I be saving my home? And where or what is this other world that you speak of?" She began getting agitated and her breathing became erratic.

"Calm my child," the woman kneeling next to her said. "We are not trying to confuse you, but we cannot tell you all now, you don't have the time left. Sweet girl, will you help to save the worlds, save the past?" she implored.

Brenna looked to those standing around her looking at her with knowledge and kindness in their eyes. She felt safe here, she felt home here. Her thoughts were cut off by the tinkling laughter of those around her.

"Yes young one, you are safe and home with us and one day you will be with us and your kin again, but I ask you again, what is your choice?" asked the large man holding her protectively to him.

"I will help," Brenna said quietly.

She felt a rush of life and power course through her body as white light engulfed her completely. The woman pressed a kiss in the center of her forehead as did the man. Four others stepped forward and kissed her across her forehead. She felt sleep coming as she tried to reach out for some anchor to the sinking and falling feeling that once more consumed her.

Faintly off in the distance she heard, "Go now my child, with the blessings of all the Valar. Should you need us just call on us little one." Another voice spoke softly, "If you are ever in need of me child, search for the answers in your dream," the male voice spoke, stress the word dreams and she drifted farther away. And then the voices faded into darkness.

Brenna woke to the sound of voices all around her. Groggily she tried opening her eyes and moving, but couldn't. She heard people jump to their feet and rushing towards her, but couldn't find the strength to fight them off even though her ever instinct told her to do so.

Warm hands touched her forehead, and a soothing voice spoke in a language she didn't understand, but sounded so familiar. As she was rolled over onto her back she heard gasps of surprise and then it seemed as if all Hell broke loose. People began arguing as she opened her eyes and could blurrily make out the shapes of people standing around her.

The person holding her and checking for injuries was speaking to her soothingly, but she couldn't understand him. Curiously she looked up at him and he gasped in surprise, almost dropping her head onto the ground. At that point in time Brenna noticed that she wasn't at home anymore and that she was outside in some sort of courtyard that she had never seen before.

At the man's sound of surprise all talking stopped and all eyes turned towards her. There were men of all ages, sizes, and races standing around her staring at her with their mouths hanging open. She curiously looked from one face to the next and couldn't help but be reminded of characters that she remembered her parents reading to her about as a child.

Many of the fairer looking men called out things such as "Ai Elbereth!" They pointed to her forehead with wide eyes. Some looked on in reverence, others confusion, some in fear.

Brenna sat there with her mind racing, not sure of what to make of what was happening all around her. As the men began talking amongst themselves quietly in hushed tones looking at her, she couldn't help but think about how surreal the experience was. She decided that she was either in a coma at home, dreaming again, or she was going insane. She was a logical person and sure strange things happened around her, but there was no way that she was in a fictional story, she couldn't really be in Middle Earth because it didn't exist, right?

She was brought out of her thoughts when one of the men stepped forward speaking to her in the strange language she had heard moments before. She looked up to him and noticed that there was someone standing next to him who looked exactly like him and she raised her eyebrow.

"OK, so either I'm seeing double because I hit my head so hard, or there are two of you," she announced sarcastically.

He just smiled at her and offered her a hand to help her up introducing himself, "Well milady, I am Elladan, and this is my twin brother Elrohir. Welcome to Rivendell, although I think that you may want to explain who you are and how it is that you appeared from nowhere here."

"What?! You can't be serious, Rivendell doesn't exist, it's just a place in a fictional book!" Brenna exclaimed angrily and in confusion.

"I assure you milady, you are indeed in Rivendell," the dark haired man who had checked her head earlier began, "I am Lord Elrond and this is my home. Would you please tell us your name and how it is that you came to be here?"

"I, um, that is," she stammered looking around her un-amused and frightened.

The elderly looking man in gray had been standing back watching the scene unfold before him with a pensive look. He looked around to the others of the council looking suspiciously towards the girl. While watching the girl his eyes widened in shock with realization as he quickly glanced around as Aragorn eyed him questioningly. Gandalf shook his head discreetly letting him know not to say anything.

"My name is Brenna, Brenna Logan," she began, "and to be quite honest with you I have no idea how I got here. One minute I was at home, and then…" she trailed off wondering if what had happened was just a dream of it had really happened. Her hand trailed up to her forehead where she touched where the Valar had kissed her. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't hear the surprised intakes of breath. Coming back to her train of thought, "and the next thing I knew I was dizzy and woke up here."

A man dressed in rich looking robes stepped forward looking angry and suspicious. He scowled at Brenna saying, "You mean to tell me that you don't know how you got here Lady Brenna?" he asked in a skeptical tone.

"Listen I don't know how I got here, I didn't ask for this dammit, and I sure as Hell didn't ask for anything else that has happened to me," she began furiously as all of the men present eyes widened in shock.

Boromir went to question her further, but was cut off before Brenna became more flustered and agitated.

"Boromir!" Gandalf interrupted. "The girl speaks the truth."

Everyone present turned towards him in shock. He had just defended a complete stranger. He stepped forward as Brenna muttered something that sounded strangely like "figures" under her breath.

"But--?" a blonde haired man began.

"No, Legolas, leave it be," Elrond stopped him.

"As I was saying, she speaks the truth. Brenna is of my line," he began as gasps could be heard. "She is my only surviving relative, my son passed a long time ago and she was sent away for her protection I am assuming. However, I do believe that she is not all that she appears to be, are you child?"

Brenna laughed nervously and coolly looking around thought about how to respond. She stood in her place looking around the courtyard observing the untainted beauty of the world around her. She knew, right then and there, that she wasn't at home or anywhere near her war-riddled world. Brenna knew that as unbelievable as it was she really was in Middle Earth. Her mind quickly flashed to what she had assumed was a dream and then her thoughts strayed to her parents and her emotions almost overwhelmed her as she thought about what Gandalf had just revealed.

Her emotions must have shown in her eyes and on her face because the elves were looking at her kindly, but with concern on their faces. The dwarves were still surveying her suspiciously eyeing her, but the anger left their eyes. The men still hadn't stopped looking at her in a way that pissed her off, but she let it go for the time being.

"This place is like stepping back in time," she whispered mostly to herself. "It's untouched you realize that right?" she asked looking from one person to the next with sadness in her eyes.

"Yes it is child," Elrond responded kindly.

"My home was once like this," she stated before looking around sadly once more.

"What happened to your home?" asked Elladan.

"War," she stated bitterly looking around. "What else would have killed off almost all of the beauty and goodness? The people in my world have been fighting against one another day in and day out for seven years, killing and pillaging as they go. My parents were killed three months ago in an attack while on a business trip, so I really am alone now." She stated quietly.

A silence rang throughout the group as they looked at the girl with sympathy. Brenna was lost in her own thoughts when Elladan and Elrohir approached her silently. As Elrohir went to tap her on her shoulder to get her attention she whirled around grabbing his hand in a defensive reflex surprising all present. Her eyes widened and she let him go quickly.

"Sorry," she began with a sheepish smile, "reflex."

"Where did you learn to move like that?" asked Legolas in surprise.

"Lady Brenna you moved as quickly as a trained elf," stated Elladan with his eyes wide.

"I've been trained in fencing and archery since I was thirteen years old," she stated with a grin watching their surprised expressions.

"Well I do believe you are full of surprises child--" Gandalf began.

"What is it with everyone referring to me as a child? I haven't been considered a child in a long time." Brenna asked with a smirk, watching the men squirm as they looked at her.

"Well how old are you?" Legolas blurted out much to the surprise of everyone present.

She looked at him amusement clearly showing, as he looked uncomfortable. Brenna looked around at those present in mock anger.

"Haven't you ever heard that it's not polite to ask a lady her age?" she asked amusedly.

"Um, well, I, that is," Legolas stammered in a very un-elfish-like manner.

She laughed lightly, "Why is it such a big deal?"

"My dear you don't have to answer if you don't want to. We're just curious about you." Stated Gandalf

"No, that's alright," she began, "I'm twenty years old."

"You look so much younger, yet I can see a wisdom in your eyes," Elrond said cryptically.

"You don't even know the half of it," she said getting strange looks.

"What do you mean?" asked Aragorn who finally joined the conversation intrigued and curious.

"Well I guess I should start from the beginning," she stated vaguely and then proceeded to explain how Middle Earth, its history and "future" were written in a series of books which she had read to her when she was a child.

Boromir interrupted in the middle of her explanation by demanding, "You mean to tell me that you know each of us, what will happen to us? I find that hard to believe. Prove it!"

"You, Boromir son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor, are rude," she stated simply shocking everyone.

She chuckled, looked around at everyone and sobered quickly when her gaze fell on a small child-like being she knew to be Frodo. She looked at him with such sympathy and kindness that he looked away uncomfortably. In a daze-like manner she somberly began speaking, and everyone fell quiet to hear what she was saying.

"Some of you are here to meet your destiny," she stated pointedly looking at Aragorn. "Others are here carrying a burden that no one should have to alone," she said looking towards Frodo. "There are those here to reveal that something slipped through their grasp, something entrusted in their care that will play a major role in the events to come," she said while looking pointedly at Legolas who looked to the ground. "Some of you are here to answer the call and summons of Lord Elrond, this Council deciding the fate of Middle Earth," she said looking around as her gaze fell on Boromir. "And there are those here to reveal strange dreams regarding Isildur's Bane."

Gasps were heard all around as everyone looked at her in amazement. She looked sadly at Frodo and walked towards him as everyone tensed awaiting her actions. She knelt down to him and whispered so only he could hear.

"Trust your heart, your strength, but most of all, trust your friends," she said as her gaze bore into his eyes.

He nodded in understanding and smiled crookedly at her in response. He looked to Gandalf who nodded to both Brenna and Frodo in reassurance.

"I know that you are all wondering how much I know, and the answer is too much. My being here may change everything, so please don't ask me to tell you what's supposed to happen." She said looking pleadingly toward Elrond who nodded in agreement.

The rest of the Council proceeded and the outcome was fairly the same, the Fellowship was formed and the meeting was coming to a close. That is it was until Gandalf and Elrond stood and stopped everyone from leaving.

Brenna braced herself angrily knowing what they expected of her.

"No." she stated simply.

Everyone turned to her, some in shock, others amused, and there were those who were angry.

"Brenna, Lord Elrond and I have decided that it would be best for you to accompany the Fellowship," Gandalf began cautiously knowing that she was getting angry.

"What!?" demanded Boromir, "she's a woman, she has no place on this quest."

At this the winds picked up and the skies darkened. The quarrelling fell silent as they all looked towards Brenna whose hands were glowing light blue. Her anger flashed clearly in her eyes.

"I said before that I never wanted this, but it appears as though I don't really have a choice do I?" she asked not waiting for a response, "I have enough problems at home, my own war to worry about, I don't want to be here any more than you want me here, believe me. Right now I'd rather be at home, but seeing how I'm stuck here I need something to do," she seethed as the winds swirled around her.

"Child, please calm down," Gandalf asked.

Brenna took a deep breath and closed her eyes letting the anger drain away from her. She opened her eyes to see Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas, Aragorn, Frodo, and many others looking at her in concern. She smiled reassuringly at them as her eyes filled with tears.

Frodo walked up to her and hugged her legs trying to comfort her. He knew that they weren't going through the same things, but he knew what it was to lose someone you love and to have to do something that you might not like. She knelt down to him and hugged him back thanking him.

She straightened, standing up to face the Council and Fellowship. Brenna nodded her ascent and began walking away in the direction toward the sound of rushing water.